Two Indicted For Fatal Pedestrian Crash Which Killed Six Highway Workers

Four were from Frederick County.

Woodlawn, Md (KM) Two people have been indicted following a pedestrian crash on the Baltimore Beltway earlier this year which left six people dead, including four from Frederick County.

State Police say Lisa Adrienne Lea, 54, of Randallstown is charged with six counts of manslaughter, six counts of  negligent homicide, six counts of causing the death of a vulnerable individual  while operating a motor vehicle, driving under the influence, conducting an unsafe lane change, speeding, failure to control speed to avoid a collision, following a vehicle too closely, negligent driving and aggressive driving.

She surrendered on Wednesday to the State Police Barrack in Golden Ring, authorities say. .

Also indicted was Melachi Duane Darnell Brown, 20, of Baltimore,  who is also charged with six counts each of manslaughter and negligent homicide; along with six counts of causing the death of a vulnerable individual while operating a motor vehicle, conducting an unsafe lane change, speeding, failure to control speed to avoid a collision, following a vehicle too closely, negligent driving and aggressive driving. .

State Police say Brown was arrested on Monday, and was taken to the Baltimore County Detention Center. Brown was released on home detention following an appearance before a District Court Judge.

Troopers say a preliminary investigation has determined that Lea, who was driving an Acura TLX, was traveling in lane two of I-695 at Security Boulevard on March, 22nd, 2023,  when she attempted to change lanes. As Lea was moving into lane one, State Police say her vehicle hit the side of a Volkswagen Passat operated by Brown. This caused Lea to lose control of her Acura which entered a work zone on the shoulder of the inner loop of the Baltimore Beltway where work was underway at the time of the incident.

Emergency personnel from the Baltimore County Fire Department pronounced six of the road workers dead at the scene. They’re identified as

*Carlos Orlando Villatoro Escobar, 43, of Frederick
*Jose Armando Escobar, 52, of Frederick
*Mahlon SImmons III, 31, of Union Bridge
*Mahlon SImmons, II, 52, of Union Bridge
*Rolando Ruiz, 46, of Laurel
*Sybil Lee Dimaggio, 46, of Glen Burnie.

By Kevin McManus